New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-13
TOuEV As POLITICIANS.

We spoke recently of the extent to which
the liquor interest was organizing as dis
tihct power in politics in various parts OIL inc
country. This is largely a defensive move
ment. and is a natural result Of the growing
sentiment for restriction OF the liquor tralhc'
This question has had the effect of bringing
to the front another new force III politics.
the women. Not many persons, probably,
have realized that, in several of the cAcltlng
temperance contests in the West and South,
the women have exercised every political
function OF the men except that OF
making nominations, where there are Offices 10
be filled, and voting; and upon those engaged
i'll both processes they had powerful lniil-
ence In Texas and Tennessee, where there
were no candidates TO be voted for, ana the
contest was simply upon the adoption OF
prohibition amendment, the women paftlci-
paled in every stage Of the campaign work
except the last In the latter State tho
Women's Christian Temperance Union wat
the principal organization working in favor
Of the amendment. The women did a large
share of the labor of raising campaign funds
holding meetings. making speeches, etc.
On election day they showed that they could
carry on an election as well as the men, and
even succeed where the men failed. Men
distribute ballots; the women showed that
they could do this too. The men drive lniiim
or indifferent voters to the polls; the women
did this too and took them in their own
carriages. The men sometimes argue with
voters on their way to the polls; the women
showed great readiness in tins, and made the
gauntlet OF their cntrcaticS, their prayers and
their hymns for they prayed and sang also
so formidable that many voters who were
opposed to the amendment did not dare to
encounter them, and SO lost their votes This
mild and unintcnded terrorism, which seems
to have been very effective shows that even
in the matter of intimidation the women might,
on pinch hold their own with the men.
AZ one poll, it was related, male worker foi
the amendment became discouraged and gave
up; the women then came TO the rescue ana
succeeded by pleading with voters IN polling
a large vote. Other features OF election day
due to the strength Of the religious feeling,
which the participation Of the women cspe-
caly represented, were the tollng Of church
bells and the holding of prayer
1t would be well if every feature of elections
conducted ". HItl was tIhh's iN' ii'i" mum
full influences. One exception must be made.
however, to these concentrations Tho
women gave free lunches to voters every
where This is dcmoralizng practice, and
one open to great abuse They ought to
abandon it.
1t Will be hard to say what effect all this
will have upon future demands Of the ballot
for women The agitation of the temperance
question, which 50 nearly concerns the home,
no doubt tends TO arouse them to political
activity; but in Kansas, where they have
prohibition and partial woman S suffrage there
is much complaint against the latter because,
so it is said large proportion Of the reputable
women do not vote, while all disrcputablc
women do. There can be no doubt, however,
that We are growing more accustomed to the
idea Of seeing women in public life. Only
the other day Miss CouzinS was appointed
United States Marshal at st. Louis by the
Circuit Court consisting Of Justice Miller and
Judge Brewer, and the act attracted littlo
attention. 1t would not have been SO ten
years ago.